Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-31
BAKERS DEFENSE.
THE PRISONERS WITNESSES TALK,
RalSton's Story Confirmed IN an Important
Particular.
WERE THE MURDERED WOMEN SEEl
The Case to Go to the Jury the Last of Thi:
Week.

ever suspected that the defense would be
able TO make so strong case as they hay,
done If the witnesses who testified can bt
credited there is no possible doubt of the
prisoners innocence; and Van Baker la,
been most unfortunate victim of an out
ragged public sentiment The counsel fol
the defense promise still more startling
developments on Monday. 1t il
not too much to say thai
Bakers chances of acquittal are brighter
now than they have been since the com
mencement of the trial
The man Ralston, who testified so point
edly in his behalf on Friday, was on the
stand again. Some OF the breaks he made
were rather wild. lie showed very littl,
respect for the Kings English and hi.
| remarks created considerable amusement
While his evidence was very much shaker
iu some particulars, on the main fact
that he saw Mrs. Baker after Ahe pris.
Oner had left, it remains unbroken
This, coupled with the evidence of the
keaggie chi d, forms barrier which only
indubitable evidence will overcome. The
feature OF the day wAs the appearance D
the keaggie boy ON the stand, a bright
little fellow who lisped forth his story
without iateiHg or hesitation.
The contest between counsel has beer
becoming warmer and warmer every day
Both sides are making a hard fight TIL,
West Virginia blr may be prOuG of tn,
reco.d made hs its members. Messrs
BraidOck and Donohoe for the defence
have been especially indeiatgable, md
tht strength oi their case is largely due Il
their efforts.
1t was stated In Court that the defense
would rest their case rl Monday, and the
prosecution would consume hut a few
hours in cebuttal. II Is probable, there
fore that the case will 90 to the jury ahout
Wednesday morning
THE cross ENANINATION
OF Samuel Ral,tOn was resumed.
testified on tn lOtn and 1lth OF May
before the Coroner's Jury; | can't write
very well; never write my name; think
! SAID before the COroner's Jury that the
last time ! had seen MIS-. Baker before |
saw her on that Monday afternoon was
sometime in the last OF the week before
Q.-Huw, then, do you swear that you
saw Mr.. and Mrs. Baker in the orchard?
Al saw some woman | thought was
Mrs Baker ! was walking up through
the orchard, hut did not see her face
The witness testimony OF Friday was
produced and read as follows. ! saw Mr.
and Mrs. Baker walking in the orchard
about > o'clock in company with one or
| two men.
Q.-IIow do You account for the con
tradiCtion>
Al saw her in the yard, am certain,
| thought | saw her IN the orchard. but
was not sure that il was Mrs Baker; Just
took it to he her. The question was re
peated by the counsel several times and
the witness failed to make any eXplana-
tion of the contradiction. dc
not know that swOre before the
C0roner's Jury that | saw them walk
ing in the orchard. | said before the coro.
uer that | saw her in the back yard don {
remember much else that swore then.
Mr.. Hutchinson read a portion Of the wit
ness testimony gwen before the coroner;
THE LAST TIME 1 SAW
Mr.. Baker before that Monday afternoon
was day or two before; il was the day
they rented the stable to Davidson; | was
there and heard the bargain; . won't say
that | did not make that statement; can I
tell which day | gave that evidence;
don't remember when my testimony was
written down; don't recOllrct of seeing my
name signed in the presence of VIM. Brown;
can't tell what time on Tuesday OF Wed
nesday | was sworn a. witness and testi-
fed some man from Steubenyile ques-
toned me before the jury; ] did hear a
part of the bargain between Davidson and
Baker; think it was on the Friday before
the murder; ANYHOW in the last part ol the
week before: it was about one o'clock;
don't remember about going into the
stable, cant tell how long Baker and
Davidson were in the stable; there
was no one there but Davidson, Mr.. and
Mrs. Baker and myself; heard only a
part of the bargain, did not hear IL closed !;
don't think saw them in the orchard; !
won't be positive about it though, might
have seen them there; could not tell you
whether or not Baker and | were talking
on Friday afternoon on the bank of the
commons; never talked with him very
long at any time; | did not 20 with
Baker and Davidson To the stable;
came out OF the wafer closet and saw Ba-
ker as ne came up from the orchard and
began talking; while there Davidson came
and asked about the stable; ! did not see
Mrs. Baker with him at that time.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION.
AsI was going to the railroad | saw a bug
" on the turnpike, travelling towards
Steubenvlle; ! believe IT was Gov Rich
ards who questioned me before the coro-
nerer's jury; had talked IN Stcuhenyille
with various pgT-0nS; said did not think
it WAC possible that was mistaken in say
ing that | saw Mrs. Baker in the yard ,
SAID that knew things that | would not
tell till the time came, men have been ask
ing me questions pretty much every day;
q great many threats have been made
against me on account OF my testimony
in this case.
u. II. EEAGGIE,
a small bright-eyed young-ter, was the
next witness called.
Questioned l.y th. Ludgul am seven
yea,s old, if ! would not tell the truth
,ynul1 On In the had ulaTr
The prosecution objected to the teSti-
mony OF the witness on the grounds Of
incompetrncy. Judge R0yd Overruled
the objection, stating that he had no
doubt as to the proprety OF receiving his
testimony. The tiny hand was uplitted
and the child took th4 a,th raintly lisp
ing his assent t. H.. clerk words.